Flash cards are good for "see x, think y" automatically - as a knee-jerk reaction. They are good for other things also - for example the process of making my own flashcards helps me almost as much as using them as flashcards.

Anyway, back to using them as flash cards. This is how I use them....

I flash through them and my reaction to each card puts that card into one of three piles: duh!, ehm-er-I think..., and huh?what?

The duh! are set aside, I'll use them later but they are just in the way at this point.

The ehm-er-I-thinks, I go through again. Usually they sort into those I know now that I've reminded myself or one might be a duh that just caught me off guard the first time....and those I have on the tip of my tongue but can't quite get or tend to mix up with a similar one. These I go through a few times, giving a little time to think if needed, but not much, if I can't get it soon I look at the answer. If I consistantly get stuck everytime it comes up it goes in the Huh?what? pile. If I get it fast it goes to the back of the pile, the longer I hesitate the further to the front of the pile I slide it into. Some will be slide behind the next card. Sometimes i work only two for a little while. When i start getting them, I mix a third in. Even if I don't get it I sometimes mix in others just to change the pace.

If it seems like work, I mix in a few from the duh pile just to liven things up and give a little boost to the spirit. When I get to really booking through most of them, then I put the easiest ones in the duh pile and mix in a few from the Huh?What? pile. Alternatively, I put that pile down and pick up the huh?What? pile and either go through it slowly a few times thinking about what that card means and how it connects to everything else and how it is different, or pick two and do just the two until i start getting it, then mix in a third (or do two differentent ones, then mix the four).

I'm out of time, put that might get you started.

Apr 25, '11

I agree with Saysfaa. I just wanted to add that they are EXTREMELY helpful with A&P and even micro.

Apr 25, '11

*i am using the teas v prep book.
*i also have a book with flashcards for the teas and other nursing entrance exams.
*i learned that it is better for me when i use the prep book to highlight important facts, key terms, and helpful hints.
*then, i copy all of those highlighed portions in my spiral. then i go back through what i copied and put that info on big index cards.
*i use two highlighters and alternate them with each seperate entry, like i have done in this post.
*this keeps all the concepts from running together.

i read and re-read the cards numerous times. then i try to remember what is on the card without looking at it...this is where kids and hubbies come in handy. then, i get out notebook paper and copy everything on my flashcards again.
reading, taking notes, putting the notes into memorable formats, and copying, copying, copying helps me to retain the info.
i am starting from scratch with the science portion of the teas. i haven’t taken a science class in like 15 years, and then it was just life science, none of this chemistry or physics.

Seems like a silly question but to be honest I've never used flashcards. Not sure where to start. I know the basics but I think I'd get frustrated and "cheat".... any tips?

I tend to learn by seeing things or remembering conversations. Should I start talking to myself? LOL

I don't need them now but I know I will by the Fall term.

Thanks.

It's about what way you learn best.

I combine it all. Its' how i've smashed those a's out on all my prereq's. I do homemade flashcards...as in i get stock paper and cut out the squares. something about the color makes me remember more. then i write them out. it's true, writing them out is studying as well. then i just do them , but talk them aloud as i go through them. i also get a wipe board and write my answers out while going through flashcards. i'd swear by this technique.

Apr 25, '11

Oh you guys are great! Seriously you've given me some really good ideas.

The description of each pile made me laugh! The duh, ummm and huh piles!
I'm going to use it though.

I appreciate all the advice. I feel like I've been out of school for so long and I need to prepare myself.

Apr 26, '11

Flash cards are a very helpful study tool, if you know what to do with them.

So I just use them to quiz myself. I make up questions, either multi-choice, fill-in-the-blank, true false etc...

As someone said, the process of making them is also very helpful, especially if you make questions to them, it makes you think about how a professor might word a question regarding the information.

You will do fine, if flash cards don't work (especially when you get to physio) do flow charts, with a lot of color!

-I also make my micro flashcards with a lot of color, i.e purple is gram +, pink is gram -

Apr 26, '11

Something I used to do with flashcards that seemed to be effective was go for a walk while I looked at them. Maybe it has to do with my ADD but walking and memorization seemed to work well.

Apr 26, '11

lol! you should have seen how great my response looked in microsoft office! it was all brightly highlighted! then i came back here to read the other responses and saw my black and pale blue response. just tickled me that i spent like 10 minutes trying to make it look just like what i do with my cards...lol...

*i am using the teas v prep book.
*i also have a book with flashcards for the teas and other nursing entrance exams.
*i learned that it is better for me when i use the prep book to highlight important facts, key terms, and helpful hints.
*then, i copy all of those highlighed portions in my spiral. then i go back through what i copied and put that info on big index cards.
*i use two highlighters and alternate them with each seperate entry, like i have done in this post.
*this keeps all the concepts from running together.

i read and re-read the cards numerous times. then i try to remember what is on the card without looking at it...this is where kids and hubbies come in handy. then, i get out notebook paper and copy everything on my flashcards again.
reading, taking notes, putting the notes into memorable formats, and copying, copying, copying helps me to retain the info.
i am starting from scratch with the science portion of the teas. i haven't taken a science class in like 15 years, and then it was just life science, none of this chemistry or physics.